Stapling machine



May 13, 1941. s. F. BAUwENs STAPLING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1939 u N VEN TO 2J #R575 wwe/15 M144 C/I TTO @Ej/$- o/ a L @WW Patented May 13,1941 UNTED STT STAPLING MACHINE Application March 23, 1939, Serial No.263,636

11 Claims.

.The invention relates to improvements in stapling machines and hasparticular utility as applied to a machine for shaping a ribbon or bandin the form of an accurately dimensioned bow and stapling the band tohold it in such configuration.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the typeset forth which is rugged in construction, economical to manufacture,and so simple to manipulate that it may be used eiiciently by even acomparatively unskilled operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for stapling aband or ribbon, such as is used, for example, on mens hats, in a bowform while utilizing a minimum of ribbon and with al1 of the staplesneatly arranged in concealed positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stapling machine capableof accurately and precisely determining the length of the various partsof a decorative bow formed in a ribbon or band and for stapling thematerial to hold it in such configuration.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stapling machineembodying a novel staple clinching mechanism of such character that thelegs of the staples are clinched fiat against the material to which theyare applied without any unsightly bowing or bulging. clinching thestaples with such a mechanism they are particularly adapted for use in adecorative bow of ribbon or the like where any bulging of the staples isespecially undesirable although they may, of course, be used for otherpurposes.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the rear side of a stapled bow made onthe stapling machine of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1a is a front View, on reduced scale, of the bow of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a stapling machine embodying theinvention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion oi the machine shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a stop motion view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the gauging'device of the machine in operated position.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional View along the line 5 5 in Fig. 4.

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variety of diierent forms of stapling machines.

Accordingly, even though a particular embodiment of the invention hasbeen shown and described in some detail, there is no intention tothereby limit the invention to such embodiment but, on the other hand,the appended claims are intended to cover all modications andalternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

The decorative bow of Fig. l is formed from a band or strip of ribbon I0folded upon itself to form inner and outer layers Illa and Illb for thebow with the end lllc turned in so that the raw end is hidden betweenthe `layers and a complete loop formed. Transverse stiieners, shown asber strips,v il and l2, serve not only to hold the ends of the bowagainst `sagging but also facilitate the stapling of the band or ribbonin its necessary loop shape for the bow. The strip l l is held to theinner bow layer Illa at the closed end of the loop by tie hooks I4,while theother strip l2 is Xed to the inner bow layer lila, at what maybe termed the open end of the loop, by staples i3. In each case, thestaples extend only through the adjacent stiffening strip and the innerlayer of the bow so that when the bow is viewed from the front (as inFig. la) the staples are entirely hidden from view by the outer layerlb. Ii desired, of course, a center cross bar for the bow may be addedbefore it is applied to a hat.

The tie hooks lll are of a form disclosed and claimed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 310,898, filed December 26, 1939. Each of thesetie hooks is formed from a generally U-shaped staple and one leg isclinched iiat `against the inner bow layer lila to clamp the sameagainst the stiffening strip ll while the other leg is bent outwardly ina hook shape in order to serve as a means for attaching the bow to ahat. In fashioning the bow of Fig. 1, these tie hooks I4 are rst securedin position and clamp the stii'fening strip Il in place. Thereafter, thebow of Fig. 1 is completed by the machine herein disclosed.

To identify briefly the principal parts of the machine (Fig. 2), itshould be noted that it includes a stapler head I5 which may bedepressed to clamp a portion of the ribbon material beneath it and todrive one or more staples through the material. Beneath the stapler headI5 is a die unit I6 against which the material is clamped and whichserves to clinch the emerging ends of the staple legs, which have beendriven through the material, into an accurately flattened position onthe underside of the material which is being stapled.

Cooperating with the die unitIB is a gauge,

designated generally by the numeral I1, which is shiftable bodily awayfrom the die unit I6 a'selected distance so as to draw out, for acorresponding distance, the overlapping parts of the band or ribbon Iwhich is wrapped around the die unit and the gauge. Thus,. when thegauge I1 moves from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, it pullsthe loop in the ribbon Ill out so that the inner and outer layers IIIaand II)b of the loop are Aof selected length. By thus positivelylimiting the range of movement of the gauge, the point of overlap atwhich the ribbon end IOC is to be stapled to the body or illet` of theribbon is accurately determined for the formation of a bow ofpredetermined size and of the form of that of Fig. 1.

Turning now to a more detailed consideration of the elements of themachine, the stapler head I is of conventional'form and is carried by a.

swinging arm I8 (Fig. 2) pivoted at I9 on a frame or bed for the machinewhich also supports the inner end of the die unit I6. The arm I8 isyieldably urged to its upper or inactive position (shown in Fig. 2) by acompression spring 2I. To -drive the staple or staples into a portion ofmaterial positioned beneath the stapler head I5, one or more axiallymovable plungers 22 in the stapler head are utilized. This plunger isyieldably held in its retracted or inactive position by a heavycompression spring 23. Staples are supplied to the driving plunger 22 onsuccessive actuations of the stapler head Vby a magazine (not shown)housed within the stapler head and arm I8. Magazines and staple drivingheads of this general form `are well known in the art and consequentlyfurther detail of description is believed to be unnecessary.

To swing the stapler head l5 downward into clamping engagement with thematerial to be stapled and to actuate the staple driving plunger orplungers 22, a manual operating lever 24 is.

provided (Fig. 2). This lever is pivoted at 25 on a bracket 26projecting upwardly from the frame 20. A contractile spring 21 normallyurges the operating lever 24 into a retracted position against a stoppin 28. When the lever 24 is swung in a clockwise direction (as viewedin Fig. 2) a wear plate 29 thereon contacts the head of the plunger orplungers 22. Since the spring 23 is stiffer than the spring 2 I,however, the pressure exerted on the head of the plunger 22 causes thearm I8 to swing -downwardly until the stapler head I5 abuts against thematerial to be stapled which rests on the die unit I6 thus securelyclamping the same in place. Thereafter, continued pressure on theplunger 22 causes it to move axially downward within the stapler head I5andv drive a staple (two staples and two plungers lare used in theparticular machine shown) into the material which is presented to it.

The die unit I6 is in general fashioned to clinch the legs of thestaples into an accurately attened configuration along the underside ofthe material being stapled. Upon reference to Fig. 5, it will be seenthat the staples I3 are initially U-shaped, conventional wire staples ofthis type being suitable for the purpose. After being driven through theoverlapping portions of the ribbon II) and stiffener strip I2, the legsI3 and I3b of the staples are bent into the form shown in Fig. 6;

The particular die unit I6 illustrated, includes a top plate 30 (Fig. 3)hereinafter referred to as a carrier pivoted by a rib 3I along its rearedge on a bottom plate 32 supported at one end on the frame 20 so as toproject laterally therefrom into the path of the staple head I5. Boththe carrier 30 and the bottom plate 32 are substantially rectangular inform and dene a generally blocklike structure. The pivoted carrier 30 isyieldably urged into its projected or uppermost position (shown in Figs.3 and 4) by one or more compression springs 33, upward movement underthe bias of these springs being limited by a stop pin 34 (Fig. 4) xed tothe bottom plate 32 and projecting through a registering aperture in thecarrier 30. A recess 35 in the top of the carrier receives the head ofthe stop pin 34, the recess being of suiiicient depth to allow thecarrier to execute its full stroke without having the'pin head projectabove the top surface of the same. The top surface of the carrier thusremains smooth and unobstructed at all times.

The foot of the 'stapler head I5 is notched out as indicated at 36 (Fig.2) to accommodate the material placed on the top of the die unit I6.Directly beneath the staple driving plunger 22 in the head I5, a recess31 (Fig. 4) is fashioned in the die unit carrier 30. This recess ispositioned to receive the staple legs I3-I3b as they are driven throughthe ribbon I0 and stiffening strip I2. Within this recess 31 are locatedtwo sets of clinching dogs or dies 33-39 and 40-4I (Fig. 5). One ofthese sets of dogs acts on the legs of one of the staples I3 and the.other set acts in identical manner on the legs of the other staple.Accordingly, a description of the action of one set of the clinchingdogs will suilice for both.

The clinching dogs 38 and 39 are loosely pivoted by pins 42-43,respectively, on the die unit top plate or carrier 30. The adjacent endsof the dogs are relieved as shown (Fig. 5) so that they do not interferewith each other in their swinging movement about their pivots. The freeends of the dogs 38-39 rest onv a wear plate 44 fixed to the stationarydie lunit bottom plate 32. Accordingly, when the carrier 30 is presseddownward, from its projected position of Fig. 5 to its retractedposition of Fig. 6, the dogs 38-39 are swung upwardly about their pivotsl2-43. This motion of the ldogs is utilized to complete the clinching ofthe staple legs I3a-I3b.

The upper surfaces of the dogs 38--39 are substantially at, beinginclined downwardly toward each other when in their initial positionshown in Fig. 5. Consequently, as the staple legs I3al and I3b emergefrom the underside of the stiffener strip I2 through which they havebeen driven, their `paths are intercepted by the respective top surfacesof the dogs 33-39 so that the legs are deilected inwardly during the nalportion of their :advance through the material which they pierce.Continued downward motion of the stapler head l5 presses the carrier 30downward so that the dogs 38-33 are finally swung into the position ofFig. 6. In this position their flat top surfaces are pressed against thebottom of the stilener strip I2. The result is that the staple legsI3a--I3b are clinched by being bent inw-ard Iin a precise right angleconfiguration without any humping or bulging at the point of bending.This precise clinching of the staples is particularly desirable instapling a `decorative bow of the form shown in Fig. 1, since itprevents any unsightly distortion of the outer layer Illb of the bow bythe .underlying staple legs.

The gauge I'I embodies a generally rectangular block 45 (Fig. 3)dimensioned so that its top and bottom surfaces lare arrangedsubstantially in alinement with the top and bottom surfaces of the dieunit I6. This block 45 is fixed on the forward end of a table 46 whichis in turn mounted for sliding movement `toward and away from the dieunit I6 along a guideway fashioned on the machine frame 25. Acontractile spring 4'I, an-

chored at its opposite ends to pins 48 and 49 fixed respectively on anextension 49a (Fig. 5) of the bottom plate 32 and the table 46, servesto yieldably urge the gauge unit I'I toward the die unit I6. .A recess50 in the outer face of the block 45 is dimensioned to receive the4previously attached stiiening strip I I on the ribbon I0 so .that theribbon may be looped loosely about the gauge block 45 and .projectingend of the die unit I6 in the manner sho-wn in Fig. 3 with the closedend of the loop accurately located on the block 45 by the engagement ofthe strip II with the recess 50. Then to draw the loop in the ribbon outto the desired length it is simply necessary to pull Ithe gauge unit Ilaway from the die unit I 6 by depressing a treadle 5I (Fig. 1), which isconnected to the gauge unit `carrier 46 by a cord 52 led over a pulley53. Such outward movement of the gauge unit is limited by an adjusts-blypositioned stop pin 54 (Figs. 1 and 3) which can be set in any one of aseries of holes 55. The stop pin 54 is, of course, set at a pointcorresponding to the displacement of the gauge unit I I required forpulling the ribbon out to `a point where the end I0c will be overlappedwith :the main portion of -the ribbon just a suffi-cient distance forstapling.

In some instances it may be desirable to make one of the layers Ia---Ibof the bow in Fig. l longer than ythe other. For this purpose a plate 56(Fig. 3) is arranged for movement transversely of the ribbon woundaround the gauge block. For this purpose, the plate is adjustably fixedin position on the forward face of the block 45 by a screw 5l passingthrough a vertical slot 58 in the plate. It will be evident that byshifting the plate up or down, the length of the por-tion of ribbonpassing over the top of the die unit and gauge block between theattached stiiening member II and .the point at which the staple I3 is tobe driven can be readily adjusted. This adjustment, however, does notaiect the length `of the material passing around the under side of theunit, hence the inner and outer llayers of the completed loop arenon-uniform.

In the operation of the machine `described above, the loperator irstplaces a iiber stiffening strip I2 on the die unit I5 above theclinching dogs 38-39 and 4I! and 4I `and against guide plate 59 securedto the unit. This guide plate serves to hold the strip exactly at rightangles Ito the ribbon and locates it in proper position for stapling. Alength of ribbon having the stirlening strip II previously stapled to itat a point proper for the length of bow which -is `desired is thenprocured. This length of ribbon is loosely wound `about the platen I6and gauge unit I'I in loop formation as shown in Fig. 3. The stiIIeningstrip II is, of course, placed in the recess 55 in the louter side ofthe gauge block 45. The gauge plate 56 is set so that the portion ofribbon I0a which is led over it will 4bear a predetermined dimensionalrelation to the lower portion I0". Similarly, the stop pin 54 is set sothat when the gauge unit I'I is pulled out against it, the lower portionof the loop IIIb will be pulled out to `a point where the ribbon endsection IIJe just underlies the stapler head I5 (Fig. 4). It will beunderstood that in ordinary practice a large number of identical bowsare usually made in succession so -that the adjustments of the gaugeplate 56 and stop pin 54 are comparatively infrequent.

After the machine has been preliminarily adjusted in the mannerdescribed above, and the ribbon I Il wound loosely in loop formation, asshown in Fig. 3, the operator depresses the treadle 5I. Such actuationof the treadle draws the gauge unit Il outward against the stop pin 54and the loop in the ribbon is vdrawn out taut in the :configurationshown in Fig. 4. During this operation, the operator holds his lingerson the overlapping portions of the ribbon on top of the secondstiffening strip I2 so as t'o keep both sides of the loop taut andproperly positioned for stapling. Then the manual operating lever 24 isswung down so that the stapler head I5 is ydepressed into clampingengagement with the overlapped portions of the ribbon.

Upon continued depression of the -operating lever 24, the plunger 22drives the staples I3 through the loverlapped portions of the 4ribbonand also through the stifener strip I2. Continued pressure lon theoperating lever 24 nally causes the carrier 36 to be Idepressed so thatthe sets of dogs 38-39 and III-4I are swung to the position `of Fig. 6,as previously described, and the staple legs I3a-|3 b neatly clinchedagainst the underside of the stiifener strip I2. rThereafter, theoperator has only to release the operating lever 24 Iand treadle 5Iwhich return automatically to their initial positions under the bias ofthe respective springs 2l and 4l. The bow of Fig. 1, which is thuscompleted, may then be slipped from the die unit I5 and gauge unit I'Iwhich project laterally free of the machine frame 25, and anotherportion of ribbon placed in the machine for stapling in the same manner,

I claim:

l. A stapling machine comprising, in combination, a movable stapledriving,r plunger, an opposed die unit located beneath said plunger. agauge member located adjacent said unit and adapted to receive a pieceof ribbon or the like wrapped about said unit and said member in loopconiiguration and overlapped at a point beneath said plunger, and meansfor shifting said gauge member a selected distance from said unit topull the ribbon out until a predetermined length thereof is comprised inthe loop.

2. In a stapling machine, the combination with movable means for drivingthe legs of a staple through a strip of ribbon material and a stifeningmember presented thereto, of a die unit for clinching the staple legsagainst the underside of the stifiening member, said die unit includingan elongated carrier pivoted at one end and having its free end locatedin opposed relation to the staple driving means. staple clinching meanssupported in a recess in the free end of the carrier, guide means onsaid carrier for locating the vstiffeningmember with respect tothestaple clinching means, means yieldably holding the carrier in aposition to permit the staple legs to be driven through the material andthe stiftening member, said carrier being movable with the driving meansafter the staple has been driven, and means operative in the movement ofthe carrier for actuating the clinching means to clinch the staple legsilat against the underside of the stiffening member.

3. A machine for forming loops in strips of ribbon material comprising,in combination, a stationary member, a movable member shiftable towardand from the stationary member, means yieldably holding said movablemember closely adjacent the stationary member While a strip of ribbonmaterial is wound around the members in loop formation, means forshifting the movable member away from the stationary member to pull theribbon into a loop of predetermined length, and means for securing theoverlapping portions of the ribbon together to close the loop.

4. A machine for forming loops in strips of ribbon material comprising,in combination, a stationary member, a movable member shiftable towardand from the stationary member, means yieldably holding said movablemember closely adjacent the stationary member while a strip of ribbonmaterial is wound around the members in loop formation, adjustable meansfor determining the limit position of the movable member, means forshifting the movable member to its limit position to pull the ribboninto a loop of predetermined length, and means for securing theoverlapping portions of the ribbon together to close the loop.

5. A machine for forming loops in strips of ribbon material comprising,in combination, a stationary member, a movable member shiftable towardand from the stationary member, means yieldably holding said movablemember closely adjacent the stationary member while a strip of ribbonmaterial is wound around the members in loop formation, adjustable stopmeans for limiting the displacement of the movable member with respecttothe stationary member, means for shifting the movable member intoengagement with said stop means to pull the ribbon into a loop ofpredetermined length, and means for securing the overlapping portions ofthe ribbon together to close the loop.

6. A machine for forming loops in ystrips of ribbon material each havinga stiffening member attached at a point corresponding tothe closed endof the loop, said machine comprising, in combination, a pair of membersone movable laterally toward and away from the other, means urging saidmembers together While a strip of ribbon material is Wound around themembers in loop formation, one of said members having a recess adaptedto receive the attached stiiening member, means for moving thel:shiftable member away from the other member to determine the finallengthy of the loop, a gauge plate adjustably supported on one of saidmembers for movement transversely of the ribbon wound thereon andoperative todisplace one side of the loop'` and thereby increase itslength with respect to the other side of the loop, and means forsecuring overlapping portions of the ribbon together.

'7. A machine for forming loops in strips of ribbon material each havinga stiifening lmember attached at a point corresponding to the closed endof the loop, a pair of members one movable laterally toward and from theother,

means urging said one member toward the other while a strip of ribbonmaterial is wound around the members in loop formation, said one memberhaving a recess adapted to receive the attached stiffening member andthus prevent movement of the ribbon relative to that member, guide meanson the other member for locating a second stiifening member to besecured to the ribbon adjacent the other end of the loop, means formoving said one member away from the other member to determine thelength of the loop, a gauge plate supported on one of said members formovement transversely of the ribbon Wound thereon to vary the length ofribbon between the stiffening members at one side of the loop.

8. A machine for forming closed loops in strips of ribbon material eachhaving a stiffening member attached at a point corresponding to theclosed end of the loop, said machine comprising, in combination, a pairof members one shiftable laterally away from the other to determine thelength of a loop formed in a ribbon wound around the members with thestiffening member held in fixed relation to said one member, guide meansmounted on the other member and located within the coniines of the loopfor holding a second stifening member in predetermined relation to theribbon, and means associated with said other member for stapling theoverlapped portions of the ribbon and the second stiiening membertogether.

9. A machine for forming a loop in a strip of ribbon material having astiffening member attached thereto at a point corresponding to theclosed end of the loop, said machine comprising, in combination, astaple driving plunger, a staple clinching die unit located in opposedrelation to said plunger, a gauge member supported for movement towardand from the unit, means yieldably holding said member closely adjacentthe unit to permit the strip of ribbon material to be wrapped about theunit and the member in loopconiiguration, said gauge member having arecess in one side for receiving the stiifening member attached to thematerial, means for shifting said gauge member a selected distance fromthe unit to pull the ribbon into a loop of predetermined length, andmeans for operating said plunger to drive a staple through theoverlapping portions of the ribbon at the open end of the loop, said dieunit cooperating with the plunger to clinch the staple.

10. A machine for forming a loop in a strip of ribbon material havingone stiifening member attached thereto at a point corresponding to oneend of the loop,v said machine comprising, in combination, a stapledriving plunger, a staple clinching die unit located in opposed relationto said plunger, guide means on said unit for locating a secondstiiening member in position to be secured to the ribbon adjacent theother end of the loop, a gauge member supported for movement toward andfrom the unit, means yieldably holding said gauge member closelyadjacent the unit to permit a strip of ribbon. material to be Wrappedabout the unit and the member, the second stiffening member and thegauge member, said gauge member having a recess in one side forreceiving the first mentioned stiiening member, means for moving saidgauge member away from the unit to pull the ribbon into a loop ofpredetermined length with the stiffening members located substantiallyat opposite ends thereof, and means lfor operating said plunger to drivea staple through the overlapping portions of the ribbon and the secondstiiening member, said die unit cooperating with the plunger to clinchthe staple.

11. A stapling machine comprising, in combination, a plurality ofmembers one shiftable laterally away from the other to determine thelength of a. loop of ribbon or the like wound about the same, meanslocated adjacent said other member for driving a staple through theoverlapped portions of the ribbon, and means carried by said othermember for clinching the staple.

SERAPHINE F. BAUWENS.

